You’ll find over 90% of what your patrons are looking for by searching the collections of MHLS member libraries through the OPAC/Sierra.

If the item is not available in the OPAC/Sierra, member library staff should first check SEAL(the regional database of catalogs from academic, special, public and school libraries in Columbia, Dutchess, Greene, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, and Ulster counties), and request the item through the SEAL interface.

If the item is not available in SEAL, MHLS coordinates interlibrary loan services for members to borrow from nationwide collections through OCLC. Member library staff can send the request to MHLS ILL Department in ALA format by paper , online form or email. Note: If a journal title in not available in Sierra, please also check the electronic journals on your county eResources/HomeACCESS page before sending in a request.

Before submitting an OCLC ILL request to MHLS:

the member library must check SEAL, as MHLS ILL will not request any item available in SEAL. SEAL requests are placed directly by the member library.

the member library must check Amazon for the price of the item, because (as per the MHLS Directors Association as of 10/1/11) MHLS ILL cannot accept requests for any item that can be purchased new for under $25.

Also note that (as per the MHLS Directors Association as of 1/1/09) MHLS ILL cannot accept requests for popular, readily available DVDs and music CDS. As of January 2015, the only DVDS MHLS ILL will lend or borrow through OCLC are non-fiction.

If the item is from one of the following libraries, it can be sent in the delivery to MHLS ILLusing this routing slip. MHLS will forward it onto Empire Library Delivery for delivery to the institution.

If the item is going to one of the following libraries, it can be sent it in the delivery to MHLS ILLusing this routing slip. MHLS will forward it onto Empire Library Delivery for delivery to the institution.

Items brought in through OCLC cannot be renewed by library staff or patrons. If you patron needs an extension, please contact Tara Stohr (ill@midhudson.org) who can request an extension from the supplying library.